Spring motor



`July 15;` 1941. w. s. sussMm 2,249,441

SPRING MOTOR Filed o ot. 20, 1939 Patented July 15, 1941 UNETED STATESPATENT @FHS/E. 2,249,441 n SPRNG MOTOR William S. Sussman, New York, N.Y. Application October 20, 1939, Serial No. 360,304

(Cl. 18S- 37) 4 claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in spring motorsand relates more particularly to an improved compact motor which, whileso designed as to occupy a minimum amount of space, will neverthelessstore a considerable amount of energy and will deliver a far greateramount of power than existing devices of this character. y

One of the principal objects of the present invention is the provisionof a small unitary prime mover adapted to be driven by a spring, thedevice ,being particularly adapted for driving a razor with a movingblade, the various operative parts being so arranged as to be entirelyenclosed with a relatively small housing of such size as to beconveniently held in the hand of the user during the shavingoperation.

Another object:of thejinvention is the provision of a novel `springmotor of small dimensions and having a novel arrangement of gearsadapted to rotate a drive shaft at considerably higher speeds thanpresently known spring motors, and to operate without appreciable lossfrom friction. L

Yet another object YofY the invention is the provision of a` relativelyhigh speed` spring motor having a train of speed increasing gears housedwithin a small area and supported by a novel frame-structure having aminimum of weight.

Whereas the'present invention is illustrated as being used inVconnection with a mechanical shavenit nevertheless will have a varietyof uses such as for driving a small current generator in a ashlight andfor many other uses.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedspring motor with aA train of gears all enclosed within a relativelysmall, elongated casing, such casing havingassociated therewith novelspring winding meansv free vfrom any projecting partsrsuch as cranks orthe like. v l

Other objects of the invention will be hereafter specifically pointedout or will appear obvious as the specification proceeds.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken through a preferredembodiment of the present invention;4 i

Fig. 2- is a top plan view thereof;

Fig-Sis a transverse, horizontal on Vline S--S of Fig. l; l

Fig. 4 is a transverse, horizontal section taken on line Ill-I of Fig.l; Y

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partially in section, of one of the internalgear structures; and

section taken Fig. Gis a transverse vertical section. taken through oneof the support means for such internal gear structures. Y

`The preferred embodiment of theginvention includes a plurality ofsprings H53 contained within a cylindrical housing IH, such housingbeing provided with an integrally formed lower wall |-|2. The springsare also secured at their inner terminals ||3 to a central verticalshaft H4 provided with a reduced-portion H5 at its upper end, suchreduced portion being journalled within a recess H16 formed in av mainVdrive shaft H8. f

A rotatable cylindrical housing H9 is formed integrally with such shaftIl, such vhousing enclosing the springs H0, the outer terminals |23 ofwhich are secured to the inner wall of such housing. After the springshave been wound, the inner terminalsthereof are held immovable, sincethe shaft H4 is itself immovable except when the springs are beingwound. The outer terminals of the springs, however, impartv rotativemovement to the housing |9- carried by the drive shaft HB. A closuredisc |23 is carried at the lower end of housing H9, the disc having acentral aperture throughwhich the lower end of shaft M passes,` theshaft also passinglthrough a central aperture |24 in the lower wall |l2of housing At its llower "end, the shaft is i, threaded as shown at |25andthis threaded portion is received in a threaded aperture |25 in anenlarged portion |21 of the base wall |28 of a base cap |29. This cap iscarried on the exterior of housing and it will be seen lthat as this capis manually turned, the vsprings ||ll are wound. Unwinding of the springis prevented byV means of a ratchet wheel I3! secured to the threadedportion |25 of shaftY IA, such ratchet wheel being engaged vbyaconventional pawl |32 `,which is pivotally mounted-on the lower surfaceof base wall l I2. Y

The upper end of housing i|| is internally threaded as shown at |35 andis secured to an externally threaded fportion of a base |36 of a framestructure which supports a train of gears, now to be described. A gear|50 having internal teeth MI is keyed to the upper end of main drive*Vshaft H3 by meansof a set screw |43. This gear H0 is supported -in anannular recessed portion of frame structure |36 and the internal teethof this gear engage a smaller gear |45 pivotally mounted at |41 on thelower surface of a stationary supporting structure |50, shown in detailin' Fig. 6. This structure is desirably formed in one piece and includesan annular portion |5| having a lower reduced annular portion |52, aninternal annular seat |53 being formed substantially midway between Aplurality of these supporting structures |50 are placed one upon theother, the lower reduced portion |52 being received within the upperportion of the next upper supporting structure and resting upon seat|53. The reduced portion |52 of lowermost support I 50 is receivedwithin a recess at the upper end of frame structure |36, the externaldiameter of annular portion |5| being the same as the external diameterof the upper extension of frame |36. The support is further formed withvertical apertures |55 on opposite sides thereof, elongated bolts |51passing through the aligned apertures in the several supports 50, suchbolts being threaded at their lower terminals and being positionedwithin threaded apertures |59 in base structure |36.

Support |50 is further formed with a lower base portion |56 having acentral aperture |58. It will thus be apparent that as internal gear |40mounted on main drive shaft I8 rotates, it imparts rotation to smallergear |46, which gear meshes with a gear |65 mounted at the lower end ofgear structure I 6'2 (Fig. 5) having internal gear teeth |63, a hollowbushing |64 connecting small gear 65 with the main portion of structure|62. A4 central vertical shaft |61 freely journalled at its lower end ina central aperture |68 in the lowermost internal gear |40 passes througha central aperture |69 in gear structure |62, the latter being freelyjournalled on such shaft and accordingly such gear structure is drivenmore rapidly than gear |40, depending upon the ratio between suchinternal gear and gear |65,

The central aperture |58 in support |50 is of sufficient diameter toreceive small gear |65 and the gear structure |62 is supported on thelower base portion 56 of support 50. The number of such speed increasingstructures is dependent upon the speed desired, five being illustratedin the drawing. The uppermost internal gear structure, designated as|62', is received in a support |10 of greater depth than the othersupports |50, a seat portion |1| near the upper end thereof receiving ajournal member |13 having a central aperture |14 in a depressed porion|15 thereof. This aperture acts as the upper bearing for shaft |61 andsuch aperture has a reduced portion |16 which forms the lower bearingfor a drive shaft |18. This shaft carries a gear |19 at the lower endthereof, such gear engaging a gear |80 pivotally mounted on a shaft |8|which is carried on the lower surface of a circular, upper frame.

member |82. This latter gear |80 is rotated by engagement with the teethof upper internal gear structure |62 and an aperture |84 is formed injournal member |13 to receive this gear. Thus rotative movement istransmitted from uppermost internal gear |62' to gear |80, and to gear|19 keyed to shaft |18.

Upper frame member |82 is secured in place by means of nuts |81 carriedat the upper-end of bolts |51 and this frame is provided with integrallyformed, upwardly extending portions |88 which merge into threaded collarportion |89. These portions are curved, although such curvature is notapparent in Fig. l.

A governor controls the speed of shaft |18, such governor being similarto that shown in the preferred embodiment and includes a fixed cup |9|mounted on the upper surface of frame the upper and lower ends ofportion.

|82 and a rotatable cup |92 having a collar |93 75 secured to shaft |18,the latter cup enclosing the former. Arms are pivotally mounted at |96within rotatable cup |92 as in the preferred embodiment. Likewise, alever |91 centrally pivoted at |98 is urged against cup |92 by means ofspring |99, the opposite end of such lever carrying a finger depressingportion 200 positioned within a suitable aperture in a taperedcylindrical gear housing 20|.

This embodiment of the invention may be used for a variety of purposesand in the present instance it is shown as furnishing power for amechanical razor having a head portion 284, supported by a nut 205carried on the threaded portion of collar |89. In this instance, powerfor the moving cutter designated as 206 is furnished through the centershaft |18 and the shaving head is shown as being centrally positioned onthe supporting nut 205.

In the event, however, that it is desired to connect a drive shaft toone or both ends of the moving element within the shaving head insteadof to the center thereof, the power may be taken olf at the side, asfrom the gear |80. In the arrangement shown, however, the motor may alsobe used to operate a small power drill or screwdriver, or it may be usedto operate a rotatable toothbrush. The foregoing are only a few of themany possible uses to which the motor may be put. If the motor is to berun for any considerable length of time, the heat which Vmay generate inthe gear train may well be insulated from the outer housing 20| byfilling the annular'recess between the superimposed supporting members|50 and such housing with suitable insulating material such as mineralwool.

It will also be apparent that this embodiment of the invention may bemodified considerably without departing from the spirit of theinvention, as dened by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A spring motor comprising a substantially cylindrical housing, acoiled spring positioned within the housing and being secured thereto atits outer terminal, a winding shaft journalled in the center of thehousing, the inner end of thespring being secured to said shaft,exteriorly disposed winding means secured to such shaft, a drive shaftcarried by the housing, a driven shaft spaced from but in axialalignment with the drive shaft, and a plurality of trains of speedmultiplying gears positioned in superimposed relationship between thetwo shafts to impart higher speed of rotation to the latter than theformer, each train comprising an internal gear structure, the lowermostof said structure beingl carried by the drive shaft, a central drivengear carried by and spaced below each successive internal gear, and anidler gear between the internal gear and the driven gear carried by thenext successive internal gear.

2. A spring motor comprising a substantially cylindrical housing formedwith an end wall, a fiat, 'coiled spring positioned within the housingand being secured thereto at its outer terminal, a winding shaftjournalled in the center of the housing, the inner end of the springbeing secured to said shaft, exteriorly disposed winding means includinga winding cap secured to such shaft, a drive shaft formed on the endwall of the housing, a driven shaft spaced from but in axial alignmentwith the drive shaft, a governor carried by the driven shaft, and aplurality of trains of speed multiplying gears positionedl insuperirnposed relationship between the two shafts tn impart higher speedof rotation to the latter than the former, each train comprising aninternal driving gear structure and a central driven gear carried by andspaced below each internal gear, an idler gear between the internal gearand the driven gear carried by the next successive internal gear, thelowermost internal gear being 'carried by the drive shaft, the gears inthe several trains having aligned apertures therein, and a supportingshaft passing through such apertures.

3. A spring motor comprising a substantially cylindrical housing, aflat, coiled spring positioned within the housing and being securedthereto at its outer terminal, a winding shaft journalled in the centerof the housing, the inner end of the spring being secured to said shaft,and exterior- 1y disposed winding means secured to such shaft, a driveshaft carried by the housing, a driven shaft spaced from but in axialalignment with the drive shaft, and a plurality of frame structurespositioned in superimposed relationship between the two shafts and atrain of speed multiplying gears supported by each frame structure forimparting higher speed of rotation to the latter shaft than the former,each train comprising an internal driving gear structure, the lowermostof said structure being carried by the drive shaft, and a substantiallysmall central driven gear formed integrally with and spaced below theinternal gear, and an idler gear journalled on each outer terminal,- awinding shaft journalledin the'V` center of the housing, the inner endof the spring being secured to said shaft, a frame structure including aportion extending below the housing, a Y

spring pressed pawl carried thereon and a ratchet wheel carried on theshaft, a winding cap secured l at the lower end of the shaft, a driveshaft secured to the upper wall of the housing, a driven shaft spacedfrom but in axial alignment with the drive shaft, a governor carried bythe driven shaft, and a plurality of trains of speed multiplying gearspositioned in superimposed relationship between the two shafts to imparthigher speed of rotation to the latter than the former, each traincomprising an internal driving gear structure and a central driven gearcarried by and spaced below each internal gear, an idler gear betweenthe internal gear and the driven gear carried'by the next successiveinternal gear, the lowermost internal gear being carried by the driveshaft, the gears in the several trains having aligned apertures-therein,and a supporting shaft passing through such apertures. y,

WILLIAM S. SUSSMA1\I.

